St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-01


This meeting was called for the purpose of
holding up the hands of those men in the leg
1Siature who were leading in the high license
movement and encouraging the friends of
the cause in that body. Wher. the legislature
first convened high license was considered an
assured fact, but there has been an apparent
change-perhapS more apparent than real.
The liquor interests are splendidy organized,
and are really in that respect worthy ex-
ample to the law and order people of this
state. They have been at work in the legisla-
ture, and have accomplished results which
have alarmed the friends OF high license"
Gentlemen, what does that mean? 1t
means that the governor substantially
charges, upon the members of this house,
corruption and bribery. l don't propose
tamely to submit to such talk from the gov
ernor of this state unless he has the proof to
present of its absolute correctness. l pro-
pose to give hlm an opportunity to prove it.
The attorney general re-echoes those charges.
Who made this puny gentleman from Fergus
Falls. who was elected to his office by poti-
cal deal-who is a recent Importation from
Wiscousin-the keeper of the consciences of
the Republican members of this house? There
is something more to call your attention to.
A leading Republican paper in this state says
in its Saturdays issue that the high license
people have employed skilled detectives to
dog the heels CT the members of this house.
Why should this be so? Let me read to You:
1HO SAINT utSperdle aSSduIl is dSdiu LO De
made upon the integrity of the members of
the legislature. A much larger sum has been
raised for the purpose than was raised two
years ago, and one of the first steps was to
employ a corps of skilled detectives to watch
every movement that may be made-so tho~-
oughly have they done their work. etc.
AN INSOLENT STATEMENT.
Now, gentlemen, If it is true-which deny
1.-The insolent statement that any man can be
purchased in this house-if it is true that
this has been attempted, let us investigate it.
Let US go to the bottom of those charges. Let
us see upon what authority it is that the
governor Of this state charges corruption
upon coordinate branch of the government
Of this state-upon what authority the attor-
ney general of this state impledly charges it
upon his legal superiors. There are many
men who will not support the plan Of sad
ding $1,000 license upon those cities. We
propose when we do cast our votes that they
shall not be under the imputation made by
the governor and attorney general and other
distinguished citizens that they are corruptly
given. Rev. Dr. Smith, tor instance, charges,
in words. that you are being bribe d.
gentleman does not hold any pub
lie Office But the Republican party-if you
put it on that basis-cannot afford that such
statements shall be made with impunity. I
could tell the governor OF this state some
things If he sat here in my presence. Has
tue pONcrUOr dufOCdteu lulS measure. OlQ ne
advocate it on the stump? He never opened
his head about it on the stump. Gentlemen
OF this house are being bribed! If they are
let it be known; ii they are not let it be
known. But don't let such infamous charges
be made unless they are SubStantiated For
myself, repel this insoient charge with in-
dignant scorn. l tell the governor of this
state that it is wrong: that he cannot indulge
in such language with mpunity ,and l tell the
attorney general that he cannot make use OF
any such language and go free from criti-
ciSm. If either of these gentlemen have
facts or figures let him go before the commit
tee of this house. If we do not take that
position we are slaves. Applause.
ALL ALONG THE sKIRMISH LINE.
BY the time Mr.. Rogers had concluded
the house was pretty well stirred up, and
when he took his seat it was evident that
profound impression had been made The
galleries were packed and the members had
come in and filled the seats. 1t looked as
if storm was brewing. and there was dis
manifest when no friend of
McGilPs got up to resent the attack that
had been made upon him. There was
long silence. and then Mr.. Donnelly arose.
The interest was intensified at once. Mr..
Donnelly had not taken any part in the dis
cuSSlOn on temperance legislation before,
and there has been a general desire to know
just where he stood. 1t was not long be-
fore this desire was gratitied. Mr.. Dom
nelly said it was lamentable condition of
affairs when the Independent party had to
arise to keep peace within the ranks of the
Republican party. He would cheerfu!ly
support the resolution. He did not believe
the liquor men had enough money to buy
Rogers or Hendrickson. There should be
the widest toleration. He did not believe
that the present legislature was like
Caesars wffe-above suspicion. There
were rumors afioat that the last legislature
was more or less corrupt, and this one
might fall into bad ways, too. If among
the chosen twelve of the Savior one bad
man was found, could the people expect to
elect 100 members of the legislature and
not have one bad one among them? If
any one had fallen and disgraced himself
ferrit it out and expose him. He was not
an extremist on this license question. lie
was sent to represents issues more important.
Liquor license was side issue with him.
But he was high licence man, and in
tended to vote for high license bill. He
favored an investigation and punishment of
the guilty if any should be found.
Mr.. KeyeS said he was surprised to see
the governor Of the state before an audience
of 1000. advertise the legislature as
Doodle legislature. The charge was made
deliberately by McGill, and was equivalent
to saying that the members were candidates
for the state prison. The members had
some reputation at home for integrity. but
as soon as they land i'll ST. Paul they are
branded as a venal set of men to be bought
and sold like cattle. If any member has
taken bribe, though, cast him out. If
not. the imputatiOn of dishonesty should be
removed from the members. Every man
who has made these assertions and charges
should be made to come before the house
and substantiate them. If it has come to
such pass that the governor of the state
makes such reckless charges. the legislature
had as well adjourn sine die and go home.
The matter should be probed to the bottom.
THE DEMOCRATS NOT CONCERNED.
Mr.. HendrickSon said it was no use for
the Democrats to resent any of the imputa-
tions that had been made, as the Democrats
were not concerned. They were not
pledged to force any $1,000 or $500 license,
or to high OF low license. The pressure
was all on the Republicans, to force them
to support this issue. He objected to the
members from the country coming in and
voting to put 81, 900 license on the cities
of st. Paul and Minneapolis. The same
high license question was before the legisa
ture two years ago, and he did not believe
any one would have the temerity to assert
that the liquor Inen tired to corrupt the
members at that time by the use of money
The members here now are competent to
follow the dictates of their own consciences.
and no one need expect them to fall in
under the party lash. The question to de-
eide is, what is high license? 1t is not that
the country should place tax of only $500
on themselves and impose $1,000 on ST.
Paul and Minneapolis. This was unjust
and unfair.
Mr.. Lucas said it was hard to decide what
was high license. He would vote for 81, 900
if the patrol limits were abolished, but not